Here’s an excerpt from the Hockey’s Future article by Jason Menard
Forwards
Again, the roster looks set, especially when it comes to the top two lines, regardless of how the Mats Sundin soap opera plays out. That said, there is a chance for a young player to crack the lineup and it would seem that Matt D’Agostini or Greg Stewart have the inside track. Kyle Chipchura, who spent the first half of last year with the big club, also should get a long look for a regular roster spot on the third or fourth lines, especially in light of the club’s decision to let Bryan Smolinski go.
Youth will be served, though, when it comes to Canadiens playing key forward roles. Sergei Kostitsyn has solidified his place on the club’s roster — the only question that remains is where will he play. Brought up as a winger, Kostitsyn has the tools to be a solid center, and the club may look to move the young Belarusian into that role, if they are unable — as it now looks — to add Sundin to the lineup.
Sergei’s older brother Andrei is a top-two fixture, and the draft-day addition of Alex Tanguay (obtained for the club’s first-round selection this season) means that there’s no need to rush anyone into that role.
This training camp will give the chance for the Canadiens to evaluate a lot of their youth in terms of how well they’re going to make the jump to the pro ranks. J.T. Wyman has exhausted his collegiate eligibility and impressed the club with his marked jump in play last season. Max Pacioretty so impressed the club that he was given a pro contract after just one season in the NCAA. He will be given a long look in terms of playing a key role in Hamilton, especially in light of the recent trade of last year’s Hamilton scoring ace Corey Locke (for the aforementioned Belle).